Apparatus for indicating pressure conditions in sealed containers



Mar; 6, 1923.

W. P-. WHITE APPARATUS FOR I NDIGATING PRESSURE CONDITIONS IN SEALED CONTAINERS Filed Oct. 2, 1919 2 sheetssheet 1 6 1 0 1 0 Q.. i q 1 H; 7 m J A a a w w w B 2 y h k c I w w W Z 1 W a w h o 1 k y M k I W m 4% J 0 1 Q k m k 0M0 M00 k A L 0 v 00 \llill l I 1 Mar. 6, 1923 1,447,701 'w. VWHITE APPARATUS FOR INDICATING PRESSURE CONDITIONS IN SE ALED CONTAINERS Filed Oct 2 1919 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Mar. 6, 19 23.

WILLIAM P. WHITE, OF BROOKLYN,VN EW YORK,

CLOSURE CORPORATION, OF BROOKLYN NEW YORK.

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ASSIGNOR T0 ANCHOR CAP & NEW YORK, A CORIPOR. ATION OF APPARATUS FOR IlN'DTOATINGr PRESSURE CONDITIONS IN SEALED CONTAINERS.

Application filed. October 2, 1919. Serial No. 327,978.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM P. WHITE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings,-State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus forIndicating Pressure. Conditions in Sealed Containers, of which the following'is a specification. V

This invention relates to an apparatus for use in preserving. food-stuffs and the like, and has particular reference to an apparatus designed for use in the processing of food-stuffs packed in individual containers and sterilized under a heat outside of the containers.

Under present practice in thefprocessing of food-stuffs packed in containers it is customary, while subjecting the container to applied to the a sterilizing heat, to subject it also to an exterior fluid pressure within the retort or apparatus in which it is being treated, for the purpose of counteracting orequalizing the internal pressure developed by the sterilizing heat. This is-necessary in order to prevent bursting, swelling or distortion of the containers, or the forcing of the closures of the containers, by the internal pressure.

' Experience has demonstrated that there is a wide variation in the amount of pressure developed within containers dur ng the processing. This is due not only to the different degrees of heat which must be utilized with different food-stuffs, but also to, the nature of the different food-stuffs themselves, some products developing pressures greater than others, and some products do: iveloping pressure more rapidly than others.

Attempts have been made through experimentation, to lay out in empirical tables the proper temperatures and external pressures required by different food-stuffs, but data compiled in this form are only relative and approximate, due to ,the variation in pressure developed by different lots of the same sort of food-stuffs, the variation in rigidity of different lots of similar containers or jar caps, and the variation in the closeness of seals or closure seams formed by different sealing machines. As a result, the regulation of the processing pressureremains, in present practice, largely a matter of guess or estimation, the accuracy of which varies with the individual, and the results.

- of which entail losses through .oped in the food containers during the prog ress of the process varies over a wide range, first rising as the sterilizing temperature is raised, and then falling, as the containers are cooled, it necessarily follows that the regulation of the equalizing pressure must be continuous, and must follow immediately the sometimes slow and sometimes rapid changes of pressure within the containers and in the retort exterior of the containers.

It is an object of ,my invention to provide an apparatus whereby the pressure conditions within sealed containers during their processing in closed retorts may be indicated automatically to an operator of the processing apparatus in order that suitable adjustments may be made in the pressure or heat supply, particularly for the purpose of compensating or counterbalancing such internal pressures in the sealed containers.

It is a further object of my invention to provide an apparatus which is operable effectively to indicate to an voperator the relative condition of internal and external pressures on a container during the processing, as above described, in order that a proper balance of external to internal pressure may be maintained. I

A still furthenobject of my'invention is to provide an apparatus having the attributes above mentioned, the range of applicationof which is unlimited as to the diversity of products, packages and containers upon which it may be employed.

More specifically stated, an object of my invention is the provision of an apparatus in which the condition of the container itself while undergoing the processing is the initiating factor in accomplishing the indication of the relationship of external to internal pressures effective upon the containers.

Still more specifically stated, an object of .my invention is an apparatus whereby a specimencontainer from the lot which is being processed is utilized to indicate the re-.

above mentioned and which is adapted to utilize a commercial package in the indicatin operation without'rende'ring it unsalable ther and further objects of my invention will "be pointed out hereinafter or indicated in the appended claims or will be ob- .vious from the following specification and claims and accompanying drawings forming a partof .this specification, andwherein is illustrated. one of thewide variety of devices. in which my invention may be embodied and by which the objects of the .invention may be accomplished. It will be .understood that the arrangements shown in the drawings and hereinafter described are given as illustrative of the invention merely and not for the purpose of portraying the limits of its embodiments.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a form of retort and processing apparatus, shown partly in sectional elevation, and illustrating the application of my invention.

7 tainers, which maybe of the sort illustrated I source in the patent to Luhrmann and Magranc, No. 1,184,252, granted May- 23, 1916. This retort'is fedby a steam inlet pipe 11 coming from a suitable source of hot steam supply, the admission'of steam from this being controlled by a valve 12, a thermometer 3 serving to indicate the temperature in the retort. The retort is also,

fitted for the introduction of a pressure fluid, such as compressed air, which may be by way of the pipe 14 illustrated, the same being fed from a suitable compressor or fluid pressure storage. Admission of the pressure fluid may be controlled by a suitable valve, as 15. It is immaterial, of course, so far as my present invention is concerned,-whether or not the steam and the pressure fluid are mixed before introduction into the retort, or introduced separately, it being simplv necessary that they be subject to independent control.

I have indicated diagrammatically in the drawings a mixer 13 in which the air, which is the pressure fluid, and the steam, which is the heating fluid, may be cornbined in proper proportions before introduction into theretOl't by way of pipe 9. The mixer 13 may be completely out off from the retort by yalve 8. The apparatus is also equipped for the introduction of water into the re tort'from a supply pipe 18 controlled by valve 7. In the-illustrati0n pipe 18 is associated with the mixer 13 in such-fashion that in the nature of a fluid by hand. In such instances-it is necespipe 9. This supply of water is utilized-in the cooling of the packages after their suh-' jection to the sterilizing temperatures, and it must he graduated in temperature in'order to prevent breakage of frangible containers. Numeral 17 designates packages of food-stufi's disposed in the retort for subjection to the processing. As is well known in the art, the packages of food-stufi's havingbeen deposited in the retort,"and the retort sealed, the packages are subjected to the sterilizing heat introduced through the pipe 11, whereby the temperature within the retort is raised to the proper degree. It is also to be understood that the fluid pressure supplied by way of the pipe 14 is such that asuitable excess pressure may be built up within the retort exterior of the containers therein to prevent distortion, breakage or uncapping of such. containers b the pres-- sure developed within them ue to the sterilizing or cooking temperature.

In my co-pending application, S. N. 288,725, filed April 9,1919, which eventuated into Patent 1,385,599, July 26,1921, I have disclosed an' apparatus whereby the regulation of the fluid pressure supply is automatically efi'ected. In certain instances it may be desirable to control the supply ofheating fluid, pressure fluid, and cooling sary that there be some accurate and constant means of indicating the status of pres;

sure conditions upon the containers which are in the retort. By following suchindications the operator, by the manipulation of the valves 12,115, and 7 ,is enabled to make the proper and accurate adjustments to maintain his proper pressure conditions within the-retort.

Theapparatus whereby thisautomaticindication is eifected is embodied in the form of a device for supporting a specimen package typical of the lot with which the retort is charged, and may include end or head members 20 and 2-1 in the form of plates or discs,

one of which may be mounted upon a portion 10 of the wall or topof the retort by means of a suitable support 23. The other head member 21 may be supported therefrom on suitable gui e members which may be in the form of rods 22 on which the member 21 is adjustable toward the member, 20

and retained by adjustable members such as the wing nuts 25. Elastic members such as the extension springs 24 inay be interposed between the wing nuts 25 and the member 21 for the purpose hereinafter specified.

The member 20 may support a spacing member 28 of suitable size and disposal to make contact with the top or cover of a suitparts is such as to exp-a-nsi-ble portion of the container, such as in proper contact with the spacing member '28even upon elongation of the rods 22 from heat or other causes. The disposal of these maintain a flexible or the cap or head S, in operative association with a detecting member 30. The disposal expansion of the portion of valve casing andarrangement of this'detecting member is such that it may be-moved by flexion or the container Wall with which it is associated.

p In the embodiment shown the detectingmemberis a small rod forming the stem for a valve 29 which is suitably mounted in a 26 associated with the member 20. Suitable packing 34 may be provided to prevent the passage of pressure from the .retort into the valve chamber around the rod 30, or the channel in which the rod is supply side 31 of which the seated maybe vented. v

The valve 29 controls a pressure line, the

which leads from a suitable source of pressure fluid, such as a reservoir of compressed' air, and the discharge side 31' of which leads ,to a suitable fluid pressure actuated in'dicating device B, of a type well known inthe art. The valve 29 may be of differential area, such as a conical valve,-so that ,the discharge aperture from the supply side 31- to the discharge side 31 may be varied in proportion to the degree to valve is unseated. The valve is normally held seated by suitable means such as the spring 32. By the unseating of the vavle, pressure fluid is admitted to the discharge sidl'3l". whereby it. is conveyed to the pressure actuated indicating device B, and the devicea-c-tuated thereby to indicate the presence of-pressure and, if desired, the degree of such pressure. Likewise, as the valve 29'closes, pressure from line 31 upon the indicating device B will be shut off, and the. devicebeing relieved, as by a vent B, the

indicator will return toward zero.

In actual operation, when the retort 10 is filled with containers of food-stuff to be processed, one of the containers typical of the lot with which the retort is charged, is placed in the retaining device, suitable adjustment of the member 21 being accomplished to position a pliable or movable portion of the container, such as the metal of -a cap S, in operative association with the extremity of the valve stem 30, the container being supported in this-fashion b I contact withthe resiliently held header 21 .In such v the indicating and the spacing member 28. The valve 29 is held seated, the position of the'container C being regulated by spacing member 28 to permit the valve 29 to remain seated while the container is in. its normal condition. The retaining device with the container mounted therein is confined in the retort along with the other containers to be processed, and the retort is closed and the sterilizing or; cooking heat introduced into it. Upon the heat becoming effective upon the contentsof the containers in the retort to produce internal pressure within them, pliable or movable portions of the containers will be under the tendency of moving outwardly. This will be true of the pliable or movable portion of the specimen container 0 associated with the valve stem 30, as container C is typical of the other containers, both as to structure and contents. Upon a predetermined amount of expansion or movement of the pliable or movable portion of the. container associated with the valve stem 30, the valve 29 will be unseatedby the pressure of the expanding portion of the container, permitting the operating pressure in line 3i to become efiective upon device B.

When the aid pressure becomes effective upon the indicating device B, the latter is operated to indicate the pressure on the dial. Obviouslyfithis is indicative of the condition of the sealed container, which conditionis the resultant of the status of external and internal pressures to which the container 1s subjected. The operator, by observing the I indications conveyed by the device B is enabled to make suitable adjustments in the valves 7, 12,- and 15 to rectify the condition of pressure within the retort to restore the specimen -container, and consequently the other containers in the retort, to the normal or desired condition. This is accomplished, of' course, by the establishment of abalance between the external and internal pressures the containers. This indicationand control is of utility both in the heating of ithe containers and in the subsequent cooling, as it is necessary to maintaln the proper pressure balance during both periods off the process.

The necessary connections for the pressure:line 31 may be made by flexible metal pressure hose such as topermit movement of the device, and disposal-of the valve casing 26, or equivalent element, may be either within the retort or exterior thereof, as desired.

tails of the device will be obvious to those skilled in the art. a

Having thus'described my invention, what I claim is ,1. In an apparatus for processing packages, the combination of a retort, an indica- Various modifications in structure and deage with the detecting member, selectively operable means for applying pressure to the package so supported, and an indicator controlled by the detecting member.

3. In a processing apparatus, the combi-' nation of a retort, meansfor indicating pressure therein, an indicator disposed exterior of the retort, a detecting member controlling the operation ofthe indicator and operable by a movement of a portion of a sealed package, and means for operablyiassociating a reentrant portion of package within the retort with the deteeting member.

4. In a processing apparatus, in combination witha retort, means for supporting packages within the retort, means for collectively subjecting the packages within the retort to modifying influences, an indicating device, a detecting member operable by a movement of a portion of a specimen pack-- age for controllingthe operation of the indicatin'g device, and means for operably associating one of the packages within the retort with the detecting member.

5. In a processing apparatus, the combination of a retort, means for supporting a sealed package within the retort, means for subjecting the supportedpackage. to external fluid pressure, an indicator, and means operably associating an expansible portion of the sealed package with the indicator.

6. In a processing apparatus, the combination of a retort, means for supporting a package within the retort, means for subjecting the package to opposing internal and external fluid pressures, an indicatorejgterior of the. retort, and means movable a wall of the package operably associating the package with the indicator.

7 In a processing apparatus in combination a retort,means for supporting a package within the retort, means for subjecting a package so supported to heating, cooling and pressure media, an indicator exterior of the retort, and means operable by a wall of the packag operably amociated with said indicator and with a package within the retort.

8. In a processing apparatus in combination with a retort, an indicating device, a movable detecting member controlling the operation of the indicating device, and means within the retort for sustaining a package with a reentrant wall portion thereof in operative association with the detecting member.

9. In a processing apparatus, the combination of a retort, means for collectively treating sealed packages therein, an indicator outside of the retort, means operable by a movement of a portion of one of said ackan indicator, and means operably associating a commercial package in the retort with the indicator in such manner that a movement of a portion of apackage operates said indicator.

11. In an apparatus for processing pack ages, the combination of a retort forconfining packages, an indicator arranged for inspection while the retort is in use, meansfor subjecting packages in the retort to pressure, a detecting member operable by pressure from-a wall portion of a package in the retort, said detecting member being effective to operate the indicator, and means for oper-- ably associating a packag within the retort ,with the detecting member.

12. The art of controlling pressure .upon

food packages in a closed retort during processing by means of heat treatment, which comprises operatin an indicator by a movement of a portion of a specimen package within the retort and then controlling the pressure in the retort to'balance the exterior pressure on the interior pressure thereof.

package against the Y 13. The art of controlling temperature and I pressure upon sealed food packages within a sealed retort, which comprises associating a specimen package with an indicator adapted to indicate movement of a flexible portion of said specimen package and manually controlling the temperature andpressure in the retort in such manner as to maintain the exterior pressure on the package sufiicient to cause the indicator to show the flexible porinined interior and exterior pressures.

14. The art of processing food in sealed packages within a closed retort provided with an indicator operatively connected with the package inthe retort and adapted to be' WILLIAM 1 WHITE.

tion of th package to be under predeter- 

